The term “daddy longlegs” causes confusion because it refers to three distinct creatures. Many wonder if these long-legged arthropods can bite and if their bites are harmful. Understanding their true identity clarifies common misconceptions.
Understanding “Daddy Longlegs”
The term “daddy longlegs” applies to three different arthropods: harvestmen, cellar spiders, and crane flies. Despite their differences, all share long, slender legs.
Harvestmen (order Opiliones) are arachnids, but not spiders. Unlike true spiders, their body is a single oval segment, not two distinct sections. They typically have two eyes on a raised mound and lack silk glands, so they do not spin webs.
Cellar spiders (family Pholcidae) are true spiders. They have the two distinct body segments characteristic of spiders: a cephalothorax and an abdomen. Most have eight eyes. They construct loose, irregular webs, often found in home corners.
Crane flies (family Tipulidae) are insects, not arachnids. They resemble large mosquitoes, with a single pair of wings and long, fragile legs. Unlike spiders or harvestmen, crane flies have antennae and different mouthparts.
Do They Bite? The Scientific Answer
Whether “daddy longlegs” bite depends on the specific creature, as their physical structures and biological capabilities vary.
Harvestmen do not bite humans. They lack fangs or venom glands. Their mouthparts, called chelicerae, are small pincer-like claws for grasping food, not piercing skin. The urban legend that they have potent venom but cannot bite is a myth; they are not venomous.
Cellar spiders, as true spiders, possess fangs and venom glands. They can bite, but their fangs are very small and delicate. A bite is rare, and their venom is not considered harmful to humans. The myth that cellar spiders have potent venom but fangs too short to bite is unsubstantiated.
Crane flies are insects and do not bite or sting. Adult crane flies have no functional mouthparts for biting, or they use them for sipping nectar. They pose no threat to humans.
Beyond the Bite: Their True Nature
Beyond bites, understanding the natural behaviors, diets, and ecological roles of harvestmen and cellar spiders reveals their generally harmless and often beneficial presence.
Harvestmen are primarily omnivores or scavengers. They consume organic material, including small insects, decaying plants, fungi, and dead organisms. They aid in decomposition and nutrient cycling. Many species are nocturnal, and some aggregate in large groups, possibly for defense or to reduce water loss.
Cellar spiders are predatory, feeding on insects and other spiders. They capture prey like mosquitoes, flies, moths, ants, and larger spiders such as wolf spiders or black widows. Their presence can control household pests. Cellar spiders hang upside down in messy, irregular webs, waiting for prey. When disturbed, they may rapidly vibrate their web, confusing predators.